Idaho Falls stays with in-person school after 17 people test positive for COVID-19

The Idaho Falls School District will stick with in-person teaching and learning after at least 11 students and six staffers tested positive for COVID-19.

The cases, which surfaced recently in eight of the district’s schools, prompted another 150 students to self isolate, the district told parents in an email Friday.

Those infected include:

  • Two siblings at Edgemont Elementary School.
  • Two siblings and one teacher at Fox Hollow Elementary School.
  • Three students at Skyline High School.
  • Four students and a “contract” employee at Idaho Falls High School.
  • One administrator at Eagle Rock Middle School.
  • One teacher at Taylorview Middle School and one at A.H. Bush Elementary School.
  • A clerical staffer at Compass Academy.

Idaho Falls spokeswoman Margaret Wimborne told Idaho Education News Monday that the cases won’t impact the district’s current four-day, in-person learning model.

“We’re constantly evaluating conditions, but, at this point, we are not looking to make any changes,” Wimborne said.

Idaho Falls trustees last month approved a four-day, in-person learning model for the district’s nearly 10,000 students — with a caveat that the district may adopt a fully in-person model or one with a heavier emphasis on remote learning.

The Idaho Falls teacher’s union opposed the mostly in-person model.

Schools across Idaho continue to monitor and adapt to the coronavirus. Here is a map of what’s happening across the state.

Devin Bodkin

Devin Bodkin

Devin was formerly a senior reporter and editor for Idaho Education News and now works for INL in corporate communications.

Get EdNews in your inbox

Weekly round up every Friday